Upwind Handling & Performance

As a beginning sailor, your editor had to learn to sheet the mainsail hard enough to control the leech and point. So it was hard for me to understand the phrase “When in doubt, let it out.” Vaughan Harrison shows…

Thus far in our SailZing posts about puff response, we have consistently advocated “feather and ease, hike, and trim” as the best technique for puff response. So, we were intrigued to read “The Fallacy of Ease, Hike, Trim” (Sailing World),…

A well-sailed boat can develop a great speed advantage; … so it is not unusual to see the largest race-winning leads developed in the lightest of conditions. Greg Fisher in When the Going Gets Light. . . Sitting on the low…

In our final episode, legendary sailor and coach Dave Ullman joins with Olympic qualifiers Stephanie Roble and Maggie Shea to discuss boat speed. Lots of great tips here, including: the nuances of mast rake and sail efficiency, the real scoop…

Bill Draheim is a multiple class national champion.  Here he explains how he uses shroud telltales to quickly identify wind shifts, using an example from a practice session in which one sailor was slower to react to a lift. Recognize…

Welcome to our series on upwind mainsail trim. This article covers Controlling Twist, which is Part 4 of a four-part unit on shaping your sails. In this series, we’re presenting a comprehensive review of basic and advanced mainsail trim concepts.…